Credit: Netflix

Must every excursion to the cinema end as though one has attended a funeral for the human spirit… Because if you look at modern filmmakers, they seem determined to wring the last drop of joy from their audiences. To be fair, Netflix hasn’t exactly been innocent of putting its viewers through emotional hell, either, but luckily there’s still room for something that doesn’t leave you questioning the point of being alive.

Let’s take Paddington 2 as an example. An innocent little bear gets banged up for something he didn’t even do, and Paul King makes a perfect case for kindness. If that doesn’t warm your heart, check that you’ve got one.

And Little Miss Sunshine! That family is an absolute shambles. They don’t have convenient problems, like their child is too perfect or they have more money than they can spend, yet the ending works a treat. Turns out a film can admit life is rubbish sometimes without making everyone suffer.

So, spare yourselves another evening of exquisite despair. These four feel-good Netflix films offer warmth with kindness, and as for those solemn critics who mistake misery for sophistication? Let the miserable creatures sulk elsewhere.

Four feel-good Netflix movies to watch for a comforting weekend

Crazy Rich Asians (Jon M. Chu, 2018)

It’s been eight years since Crazy Rich Asians came out, and until today, that lavish wedding still puts half of Hollywood’s romantic finales to shame. But come on, the real reason this film deserves another watch isn’t all the Singaporean extravagance, although those parties and costumes do deserve a round of applause.

Come on, who hasn’t fancied having a filthy rich boyfriend to sweep them off their feet? But Rachel Chu soon finds out that dating Nick Young comes with a mother-in-law who’d rather see her pack her bags.

Oh, and remember the Mahjong scene? Absolute cinema, because Rachel manages to put Eleanor in her place without losing an ounce of dignity, which is just so much more satisfying than watching another screaming match. Moreover, Rachel’s refusal to compromise her self-respect gives the film its soul, and you’d be hard-pressed not to cheer for her.

The Beautiful Game (Thea Sharrock, 2024)

After all that outrageous wealth in Crazy Rich Asians, we’ve got something in the box for sports lovers with The Beautiful Game taking you to the other end of the financial spectrum, where Bill Nighy’s Mal is coaching a football team made up of men experiencing homelessness, and he has got his sights set on the Homeless World Cup in Rome. Among his recruits is Vinny, a gifted footballer who’s been sleeping in his car but would sooner argue with everyone than admit he needs help.

Inspired by the real Homeless World Cup, the film knows better than to pretend winning a football tournament can solve the problem of homelessness because these men deserve more than a convenient Hollywood ending. But watching Vinny learn to accept help without considering himself a failure is genuinely touching, although the prize still goes to Nighy’s unwavering faith in his players.

Wonka (Paul King, 2023)

Roald Dahl’s ‘Willy Wonka’ has been a staple entertainment of cinema audiences for over half a century, and you’d think Gene Wilder’s eccentric portrayal in 1971 and Johnny Depp’s bizarre interpretation in 2005 would’ve exhausted Hollywood’s fascination with the chocolatier. But hold on, because Wonka takes a different approach, giving Timothée Chalamet the chance to play a younger version of the character, long before he owned that famous chocolate factory.

It takes you back to the time when this chap arrived in town hoping to open a sweet shop, only to find himself up against a cartel of greedy confectioners.

And that’s what makes Paul King’s Wonka such a treat! Instead of trying to outdo the earlier films, it gives you a Wonka who is full of hope, and not even Olivia Colman’s horrible Mrs Scrubbit can knock it out of him. His friendship with young Noodle is heartwarming, and, watching Chalamet’s Wonka cling to his dreams when the whole world’s against him, you can’t help but root for him.

The Bad Guys (Pierre Perifel, 2022)

It’s funny how animated films can make you fall in love with characters you’d want absolutely nothing to do with in real life, and DreamWorks’ The Bad Guys takes that liberty a bit far by turning a gang of career criminals into the most lovable bunch of rogues you’ll ever meet. Led by the silver-tongued Mr Wolf, the crew have spent years pulling off elaborate heists until a botched robbery lands them in police custody, and Wolf talks his way into a rehabilitation programme run by Professor Marmalade.

And we’ll tell you what: this Netflix film’s Ocean’s Eleven-inspired capers are great fun, but watching Wolf discover that doing someone a good turn might be more satisfying than another successful robbery is what makes the whole thing worth your weekend. Want to make a case in point for second chances? Watch The Bad Guys.